Last week we discussed how the Flames were the league's 3rd worst road team (based on close game shot-based metrics), and sure enough they dropped three straight on the road to Nashville, Tampa Bay and Florida - and now they are dead last! Oh well, at least they walked away with two loser points.

Unfortunately they're going to need a lot more loser points, because 8 of their next 10 games are being played on the road. Folks – don't shoot the messenger, but the Flames will almost certainly be last in the Northwest by the time they host Minnesota January 7th.

It'll be another year without a win in Chicago, as Calgary's United Center woes stretch to four seasons thanks to a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Blackhawks on Sunday night. It serves as a fourth straight loss for the Flames in a game that was never really close. Chicago controlled things from the very start, and even with a couple third period goals, a fifth straight Blackhawks win was never in doubt.

Calgary's first line hasn't been very good at ES during this recent road trip, so I'm worried about things heading into CHI. The other three clubs were light weights compared to the Hawks and there's no easy minutes to go around for the Flames tonight. For Calgary to pull out a point in Chicago, they'll need Iginla, Jokinen and Glencross to drive play a lot better than they have been recectly.

While it may not be the same as Anaheim's Honda Center, Chicago's United Center just isn't a friendly place for the Calgary Flames. They've lost seven straight games at the Madhouse on Madison, even if they've started to have a little more success against the Blackhawks overall. The last time these two teams met, Calgary took an impressive 5-2 win at the Saddledome.